Students on the GI Bill get support

Eileen FitzGerald

Updated 9:14 pm, Sunday, November 11, 2012

Derek B. Roy,staff sergeant with the Connecticut Army National Guard who is currently working on his MBA at Western Connecticut State University, speaks during the University's Veterans Day program Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Seated in front are, David Curtis, 23, of Bethel, right, who is in the Marine Corps., and John Cummings, 26, with the Army National Guard.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Dr. James W. Schmotter, president of Western Connecticut State University, reads the Gettysburg Address during a Veterans Day ceremony at the university's downtown campus, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

John Cummings, 26, left, of Danbury, with the Army National Guard and David Curtis, 23, of Bethel, with the U.S. Marine Corps, participate
in a Veterans Day ceremony at Western Connecticut State University, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S. Military lead a procession across camus to the Old Main building to continue a Veterans Day program in Danbury Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S....

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S. Military lead a procession across camus to the Old Main building to continue a Veterans Day program in Danbury Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S....

Dr. James W. Schmotter, president of Western Connecticut State University, reads the Gettysburg Address during a Veterans Day ceremony at the university's downtown campus, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
The flag is held by University students who are members of the U.S. Military.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S. Military lead a procession across camus to the Old Main building to continue a Veterans Day program in Danbury Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Paul Stewart, 23, left, of Norwalk, and Mario Oliveira, 31, of Danbury, are sailors in the U.S. Navy and students at western Connecticut State University. Friday they participated in the university's Veterans Day ceremony on the downtown campus, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S. Military lead a procession across camus to the Old Main building to continue a Veterans Day program in Danbury Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

Members of Western Connecticut State University who are in the U.S....

Derek B. Roy, left, and Darnell Carpenter, members of the U.S. Military and students at Western Connecticut State University, place a wreath during the university's Veterans Day ceremony, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

David Curtis, 23, of Bethel, a member of the U.S. Marine Corp and a student at Western Connecticut State University, speaks during a Veterans Day ceromony on the downtown campus, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Photo: Carol Kaliff

DANBURY -- Bright afternoon sun reflected off the medals and ribbons and the meticulously shined shoes of six students who served as honor guards.

On Friday, the men from various branches of the military marched across a stretch of sidewalk, just named Veterans Way, in front of Old Main on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University.

The students were part of a Veterans Day ceremony at the university, which has made a concerted effort in the past five years to support students leaving the battlefield for classrooms.

About 800,000 students, veterans and active military personnel are now taking advantage of the GI Bill to attend college in the United States.

Western has 150 of these students, including 23-year-old David Curtis, one of the honor guards, who served as a corporal in the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He's in his third semester at Western and admits the transition has been a little difficult.

"The lifestyle is different. I wanted to apply the military rules to campus life and it didn't work out, but I've found my niche," Curtis said.

One of Western's efforts is a lounge that is only for veterans. It has computers, printers and a study area created with the help of a local woman's club.

"It gives us a place to get away," Curtis said. "Everyone there is a vet. I can be myself."

In 2008, the state directed all state schools to play an active role in providing services to students who are veterans or active in the military.

Western formed a task force. It included Derek Roy, 24, a graduate student and staff sergeant in the Connecticut Army National Guard, who spoke at the ceremony Friday.

"It's a difficult transition from combat to college," Roy said. "Western epitomizes a military-friendly university, with flexible faculty and willing administration and veterans who speak up to explain their needs."

University initiatives include assigning staff in offices and teaching staff to deal specifically with veteran questions, creating a website with information about support for veterans, and dedicated email and phone lines for them.

"In the last four years, there has been a 300 percent increase in services over what we had before," said Dawn Bailey. She and Daryle Dennis are Western staff veteran services liaisons.

"The way we are set up, we have up to 10 people ready to assist vets, so it is more than one who are sensitive and aware of what they need," Walter Bernstein, vice president for student affairs,said.

"We are trying to get ... information to them and support so they can be successful here and to be user friendly. We want to cut through the bureaucracy," he said.

Western has a chapter of Student Veterans of America, a national group started in early 2007 after some veterans saw -- as more of their peers attended college on the GI Bill -- that schools were not prepared to support their specific needs.

Since then 600 chapters have formed. They are in every state and in every type of higher education institution, from two-year colleges to four-year public and private universities, said Matthew Feger, director of development for the national organization.

"The veterans have very different life experiences, and it can make for an isolating place on campus," Feger said. "We have found that peer support of veterans results in higher academic success ... and a better connection to the campus."

Veterans face challenges moving to the classroom after serving in combat, but they bring assets, too, he said.

"Their unique training and attributes that they learned in the service give them an advantage," Feger said, such as their leadership training and their discipline.

John Cummings, 26, of Danbury, a sophomore at the university, has been to Afghanistan twice with the Connecticut Army National Guard's 102nd Infantry Regiment, the third-oldest infantry regiment in the country.

He said the GI Bill makes it possible for him to attend school. University professors understand his need for flexibility if he is deployed for a short-term assignment or sent for training. The National Guard helps him, too.